Political editor of The Age

BUSINESS groups have welcomed Tony Abbott's promise to set up a commission of audit to take a hard look at government programs and administration, looking for savings and efficiencies.

But Finance Minister Penny Wong said Mr Abbott was just trying to keep secret his planned $70 billion cuts in services until after the election.

The review plan Mr Abbott announced yesterday is directly modelled on the Howard government's 1996 commission. Mr Abbott said this ''no-more-than-once-in-a-decade review'' would report within four months of a Coalition win. ''That way, the operations of government can be improved … while a new government has maximum political capital to take hard decisions.'' The audit would not look at promises, such as his generous paid parental leave scheme.

Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott warned toughness would be required. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Peter Anderson said the audit was ''a businesslike approach to government''.